We can’t take away the pain of the world, but we can make it more tolerable when we are empathetic. (Photo by Arwen Abenstern – KWP, Flickr)

Those of you who follow along with us on a regular basis may have realized that we frequently introduce books that celebrate people, whether real or fictitious, who make a difference in the lives of others. Three of our diamond reviewed books come immediately to mind: My Glory Was I Had Such Friends, The Trick, and our most recent volume, What Blooms from Dust. What is it that these volumes have in common? The answer is easy: empathy. Read more of this post

Her daughter was stolen from her twice, but who is guilty of her murder? Find out in Lisa Scottoline’s After Anna. (Photo by Gabriela Camerotti, Flickr)

When a woman’s estranged daughter reaches out to her after 16 years of silence, the mother is overjoyed. Little does she know, however, that by inviting the girl into her life, she’ll unleash unforeseeable devastation upon her new family which ultimately results in murder. But who is to blame? Find out in Lisa Scottoline’s new thriller, After Anna. Read more of this post

Discover why we need to eat with purpose in National Geographic’s The Psychobiotic Revolution: Mood, Food, and the New Science of the Gut-Brain Connection by Scott C. Anderson with John F. Cryan, Ph.D.. and Ted Dinan, M.D., Ph.D. (Photo by Joshua Rappeneker, Flickr)

Most of us realize that when we eat well, we feel better. But if the food we eat is too rich or sugary, it can make us feel sick to our stomachs. National Geographic’s new book, The Psychobiotic Revolution, helps us make sense of this gut-brain connection and shows us how to use it to our advantage. Read more of this post

When a man finds out that his wife is mentally ill, will he have the strength to stick by her? Find out in Mark Lukach’s powerful memoir, My Lovely Wife in the Psych Ward. (Photo by Lawrence Murray, Flickr)

Nearly all of us are taught the classic stories where boy meets girl. But not every couple gets a “happy ever after.” Sometimes, even the most dazzling romances can get dark and twisty, especially when mental illness rears its ugly head. In his memoir My Lovely Wife in the Psych Ward, Mark Lukach recounts the frightening tale of how his beautiful bride became someone he didn’t recognize, and what it took to keep his young family together. Read more of this post

Are you chronically frustrated, sluggish, and hungry? Take charge of your life and fix your brain in just two weeks with Dave Asprey’s Head Strong. (Photo by iStock)

Every day we make countless decisions. What should we wear? When do we eat? Where will we go? If these little decisions seem to frustrate you, it’s time to fix your brain, and the bulletproof executive, Dave Asprey, is here to help us get our heads back on straight with his new book, Head Strong. Read more of this post